The Proposed 2011 Family Engagement in Education ActThe Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R.1821/S.941) incentivizes schools and districts to meaningfully engage families to close the achievement gap. This bill was introduced on May 10, 2011 in the House of Representatives by Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), and in the Senate by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE). Research demonstrates that family engagement in a child's education increases student achievement, improves attendance, and reduces the dropout rate. Learn more about the proposed 2011 Family Engagement in Education Act.

PCA-NJ Releases Preliminary NJPIRC Evaluation FindingsPCA-NJ recently released the preliminary findings from the 2009-2010 evaluation of the New Jersey State Parent Information and Resource Center (NJPIRC). The 2009-2010 academic year was the fourth year in which PCA-NJ operated NJPIRC. The evaluation, conducted by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, utilized a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to evaluate NJPIRC's implementation of its parent-themed initiatives including: the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) model, the EPIC Ready Set Read program, school-based parent resource centers, Parents As Teachers programs, and professional development seminars. Highlights of the evaluation include:

The total number of parents who were reached in some fashion by an NNPS Action Team event or initiative nearly doubled from 9,000 last year to 17,000 this year.

NNPS action teams implemented many more linked ongoing activities than in the previous year.

Parents who participated in the EPIC Ready Set Read literacy workshop series reported a significant increase in the number of days per week they read to their children and daily time spent reading.

An Evening with Geoffrey Canada: Tickets Now Available!As President and CEO of the revolutionary Harlem Children's Zone in New York City, Geoffrey Canada has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to helping the most impoverished, at-risk youth beat the odds. Radically ambitious and startlingly simple, Canada's programs are on the cutting edge of preventing youth violence and fostering community development. Do not miss this opportunity to meet Mr. Canada and hear his inspirational message of educational reform! Purchase tickets today!

NJPIRC Networking EventOn Tuesday, March 8th, NJPIRC held a networking event for many of its partners throughout the state at The Imperia in Somerset, New Jersey. The goal of the event was to share knowledge and effective tactics among the group: what exactly are the best practices to increase not only parent involvement, but parent engagement...? Read more!

Welcome to the New NJPIRC Website!Welcome and thank you for visiting the new NJPIRC website now available in both English and Spanish! For the past year the staff at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey have been working to create a website that is both useful and informative for parents, educators, and communities statewide. Our new website boasts many new features including a detailed section devoted to Title I and ESEA, a section devoted to educators, new webinars, a partner page, and numerous resources to designed to educate everyone about the importance of parent involvement in education. If you have any questions or comments about our new website please contact us via e-mail or call us by dialing 1-800-CHILDREN. Thanks for visiting!